News Archives 2021 -- News Releases and NEWS NOW

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SowBridge, the distance educational series for those who work with sows, boars and piglets, and with genetic and reproductive issues, begins its next program year in February, and registration is now underway. New this year, the series will be provided online through Zoom, although participants will be able to use a call-in option instead if they prefer. Ken Stalder, Iowa State University animal science professor and extension swine specialist, said suggestions from participants guide the selection of future topics and speakers, and the live interaction with session speakers will not change.
Many Iowa State University clubs can help students increase their knowledge and expand their leadership skills. For those interested in animal agriculture, the Block and Bridle Club fits the bill nicely. As the largest on-campus organization, it offers opportunities for various livestock topical groups, including the swine interest group. Current Swine Interest Group president Brielle Smeby said activities for the group can range from industry trips, guest speakers and career events.
Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University is putting the finishing touches on its first IPIC Sow Summit. Created for producers who face ongoing challenges, this one-day conference set for Dec. 8 offers producers the opportunity to hear from swine industry experts on practical solutions to those challenges.
The Iowa Pork Industry Center and the ISU Department of Animal Science are excited to announce the 2022 ISU Swine Industry Experience. The goal of the ISU Swine Industry Experience is to develop undergraduate student exposure, knowledge, skills, and professional relationships in the swine industry in order to help meet the critical need for trained professionals in the swine industry. This experience will include hands-on farm learning, classroom lectures, and industry networking opportunities. The best thing is, thanks to our sponsors, accepted students will pay nothing! Application deadline is Nov. 1, 2021. See more info and application requirements .
Sow farm health and productivity drive the swine industry. In recognition of the ongoing need for information on that aspect of the business, Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University is planning a new one-day conference focused on the sow herd. The inaugural IPIC Sow Summit, set for Dec. 8 in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center in Ames, is intended for sow farm owners, farm and service managers, and allied industry partners, all of whom who play important roles in keeping U.S. sow farms healthy and profitable.
The application deadline for Iowa Pork Industry Center's next Pork Quality Assurance Advisor certification session is approaching, and those interested in attending should submit their application soon. The session date is Friday, Oct. 8, and the application deadline for this virtual session is Friday, Sept. 24.
The Iowa Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response webinar series continues with two sessions this month. "Iowa Perspective: ASF in Action" on Sept. 10 from 3-4 p.m. Central time and "Next Steps in Iowa: ASF in Action" on Sept. 17 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Central time apply specifically to Iowa activities and are available at no charge with registration required for connection details. Choose your desired individual session registration links https://iowaagriculture.gov/foreign-animal-disease-webinars
These two Iowa-based webinars will bookend the USDA-APHIS African Swine Fever Action Week webinars set for Sept. 13-17. Check out the topics, dates and times, and register for each session separately on the ASF Action Week web page.
Annika Holtzbauer is in the right place. As the newest staff member of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University, she’s excited to combine her love of pigs with the chance to work with members of the pork industry.
The USDA's Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory announced that African Swine Fever has been confirmed in samples collected from pigs from the Dominican Republic through an existing cooperative surveillance program. Currently pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic are prohibited entry to the U.S. due to existing classical swine fever restrictions. Read the official USDA statement and plans to keep the disease from entering the U.S. See links to more resources on our African Swine Fever page.
Corn is a major ingredient in swine diets (ranging from 70 to 88% on a weight basis), which makes corn the primary energy source for most swine rations. The quality of the corn in these rations can impact animal performance and other management considerations. A new publication from Iowa Pork Industry Center, Corn Quality – Concerns When Grain Does Not Reach Maturity, offers preharvest, harvest and postharvest considerations, according to author Mark Storlie who is an Iowa State extension swine specialist.
Industry and academic swine nutritionists will gather on the Iowa State University campus on August 11 and 12, 2021, for the International Conference on Swine Nutrition. This conference is organized in part to thank the pork industry for its strong support of the Applied Swine Nutrition program in the Department of Animal Science.
The 2021 Iowa Swine Day is back as an in-person event and organizers said they are excited to be able to offer a great program of well-known speakers focused on important issues of the U.S. pork industry. The 10th annual event will be held June 24 in the Scheman Building in the Iowa State Center on the Iowa State University campus, and registration is open.
The application deadline for Iowa Pork Industry Center's next Pork Quality Assurance Advisor certification session is approaching, and those interested in attending should submit their application soon. The session date is Friday, June 11, and the application deadline is Friday, May 28. See more info in this release.
Composting has long been an option for livestock mortality disposal. Although composting has not been standard operating procedure on many farms due to other established processes, some new or potential situation changes have led to renewed interest in composting. A new publication from Iowa Pork Industry Center can help provide the information you need, according to Dave Stender, one of the authors.
The application deadline for Iowa Pork Industry Center's next Pork Quality Assurance Advisor certification session is approaching, and those interested in attending should submit their application soon. The session date is Friday, April 9, and the application deadline for this virtual session is Friday, March 26 for the session taught by ISU extension swine veterinarian Chris Rademacher.
The International Conference on Pig Survivability is planned for Oct. 27-28, in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Hilton Omaha. The conference objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality. Speakers and topics are confirmed and registration is open.
Pork producers can learn more about building ventilation from the inside out through a series of five workshops in mid-March. Brett Ramirez of ISU agricultural and biosystems engineering is leading the workshops and said the daylong program combines classroom instruction with hands-on trials and application of knowledge. No cost to attend, although preregistration is required due to limited capacity.
After several U.S. processors announced last year they would process only pigs that are free of ractopamine, Locke Karriker and Chris Rademacher of ISU's VDPAM developed an FAQ document to address concerns and offer relevant information. The info is intended for pork producers, swine exhibition participants, feed manufacturers and veterinarians and the document will be updated as new questions arise.
Also in 2020, a document from Jodi Sterle of ISU's animal science department incorporated available ractopamine information into the decision-making process for management of market hog exhibitions, fairs and shows, by providing options for considerations. The document offers information, options and explanations, yet cautions that every situation is unique and each show, fair and exhibition must make the decision that works for their circumstances.
The 2021 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences have been set for week of Feb. 15 and registrations for the free events are now being taken. There are four locations, and all sessions run from 1 to 4:30 p.m. All are preceded by an optional PQA producer certification session at the same location from 9 a.m. to noon. See the dates, locations, speakers and topics, and plan to register soon.
Former extension swine specialist Tom Miller was named Honorary Master Pork Producer Award by Iowa Pork Producers Association at the 2021 Iowa Pork Congress recognition banquet. Miller began his extension career in late 1999 and retired in May 2020.
Since 2005, PorkBridge has provided relevant and timely information to grow-finish swine producers and other industry professionals across the U.S. and around the world. The 2021 program year series begins Feb. 4 and continues on an every-other-month for six total sessions. The program is a source of relevant and accurate information for those who own, manage or work in swine grow-finish facilities, according to Iowa State University animal science professor and extension swine specialist, Ken Stalder, who is the Iowa contact for PorkBridge.
SowBridge, the distance educational series for those who work with sows, boars and piglets, and with genetic and reproductive issues, begins its next program year in February 2021, and registration is now underway. This opportunity pairs electronically provided materials with live presentations via teleconference. Suggestions from past participants help with planning the next year’s topics and speakers, and maintain the program’s value, according to Ken Stalder, Iowa State University animal science professor and extension swine specialist.